Story lacked heart - The first film worked for me because it brought human dimension to the story of Thor's banishment and learning humility. This, plus the focus on his relationship with Odin and Loki gave us some great drama and managed to be very heartfelt. The Dark World on the other hand, is simply about Malekith wanting to gain control of the Aether, a flowing piece of Dark Matter that accidentally bonds with Jane Foster. Said storyline could have offered some emotion or drama, but it never really does. The only scenes that moved me in any way was Frigga's death and Thor's scenes with Loki. It's time like these that I really miss Kenneth Branagh's direction.

Odin the Jerkfather - What the hell?!! Why is Odin suddenly so cold and heartless here? What happened to the wise and compassionate ruler in the first film? Did the writers turn his character around just to add some drama? What a waste of an great actor like Anthony Hopkins

Malekith - Beyond being absolutely intimidating whenever he appears, nothing about Malekith makes him a memorable villain. A shame, since Christopher Eccleston could have really killed it in this role if they gave him more stuff to do, instead like Hopkins he seems wasted.

New Score- I loved Patrick Doyle's score in Thor, and I was sorely missing it here. Brian Tyler's score for The Dark World is not bad, but it's much too loud and bombastic. And doesn't offer the same sweeping and intimate moments that Doyle's score had.

The humour fell short. Thor having to get a train back to the final undercut any importance to that fight.

Ultimately though, nothing happens in this movie. The character's do not change or learn anything. Their relationships do not change and the main characters are essentially in the same place at the end of the movie as they were in the beginning.

I also take issue with how women were portrayed in this movie. Thor's mother is murdered so we can feel bad for the men in her life; it's the classic women in refrigerator rubbish. Also, Thor spends the two years between this and the last film bringing peace to the universe, while Jane spends it pining after Thor and apparently not even showering.

I put Thor in my 2a/2b category with TIH. I loved it to death, but it's a flawed movie.

Mostly emotional highs, Thor was a rousing and touching film for me. Kenneth Branagh did a wonderful job in making us invested in the familial struggle between Thor, Loki and Odin. We weep for Thor when he realizes he can't lift Mjolnir and that his actions may have damned to be forever exiled, just as we cheer for him when he gets back the hammer and reconciles with his father.

That's what The Dark World lacked big time. Any genuine emotion to make us care for these characters.

Mostly emotional highs, Thor was a rousing and touching film for me. Kenneth Branagh did a wonderful job in making us invested in the familial struggle between Thor, Loki and Odin. We weep for Thor when he realizes he can't lift Mjolnir and that his actions may have damned to be forever exiled, just as we cheer for him when he gets back the hammer and reconciles with his father.

That's what The Dark World lacked big time. Any genuine emotion to make us care for these characters.

Where would you have placed that "emotional" high then?

They can't do it literally beat for beat in this sequel, otherwise they're making the same movie all over again.

I figured elements like the Loki trial would potentially satisfy that element. What about Thor/Loki? Do we not get to see the white elephant in the room about their relationship?

They manage to over explain and under explain the plot at the same time.

The prologue is too dense and overall quite poorly done.

Odin seems like a different character than the first, he's the angry Lee/Kirby Odin brought to life in this one so it's both a plus and a negative.

I will say this ..... when I first heard the voice over by Odin in the trailer, I kinda was hoping we'd get something more than a prologue. We got that in the first one already.

As for his anger, that's actually what I want because Loki has put the entire Nine Realms into chaos. I mentioned many times on here that if we didn't get a scene with him dressing down Loki because of his actions, it would've been a majorly wasted opportunity.

That's where the emotional meat was. When they mentioned this film took place 1.5 years after The Avengers, it seemed like we wouldn't get to see it.

They can't do it literally beat for beat in this sequel, otherwise they're making the same movie all over again.

I figured elements like the Loki trial would potentially satisfy that element. What about Thor/Loki? Do we not get to see the white elephant in the room about their relationship?

No one is asking for more of the same. All I ask is that the filmmakers make us care for what's happening onscreen. Was it too much to ask for some drama regarding Jane's exposure to the Aether? There should be some suspense whether this thing was going to kill her or not, and how Thor deals with it, since this is the woman he loves. But the movie never bothers with it.

As for Loki, he doesn't have much of a part in the main plot, so whatever happens to him is inconsequential. What was his purpose other than to provide Thor a means to leave Asgard and back him up when they face Malekith? I did like that he and Thor got their little chance to talk, but in the grand scheme of the film, it feels like an isolated moment.

Ultimately though, nothing happens in this movie. The character's do not change or learn anything. Their relationships do not change and the main characters are essentially in the same place at the end of the movie as they were in the beginning.

Spoiler!!! Click to Read!:

I disagree about that. Thor ends up not wanting the throne and seemingly leaves Asgard for Midgard, only to come back as a protector if needed. Definitely not where he started.

We don't really know where Odin ends but he also changes in that he shows that he's not flawless and succumbs to grief and feelings of vengeance. Not like what we've seen before.

Loki ends up the same, as he should as it's his nature, but he still has an arc where he actually gets to show a more compassionate side and that he isn't just rotten to the core as Thor and Odin thought when this movie started.

Malekith, he ws nothing, and his henchmen guy pretty much just the muscle to be pointed at the hero for the sake of a scrap.

Seeing the big shock moments coming because they were predictable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oscorp

Over reliance on comedy. Ruined alot of what little sense of drama there was.

Agreed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeeKay

Too much humour, underdeveloped villain. Lacked heart of the first film.

Bingo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack O Lantern

Kat Dennings was super annoying in this film.

The humour fell short. Thor having to get a train back to the final undercut any importance to that fight.

Ultimately though, nothing happens in this movie. The character's do not change or learn anything. Their relationships do not change and the main characters are essentially in the same place at the end of the movie as they were in the beginning.

Agreed on both points. For the big battle it kept being interupted for Darcy or Jane and when it was action it was more or less just falling.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan

Is this basically Iron Man 3 all over again?

Yes, but more entertaining at least

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigThor

Well contrary to what cbm fans think, Iron Man 3 is generally regarded ad a good film. Had it not been for that twist cbm fans would think it's a good film as well..